Tube-flanging machine.



T. N. COFFELDER.

TUBE FLANGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1912.

1, l 04:, 1 66, Patented July 21, 1914.

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Sum/mien TH: NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c,

T. N. GOFPELDER'.

TUBE FLANGING MACHINE.

Patented July 21, 1914.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1912.

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awumtoz ,TI-IOMAS N. COFFELDER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TUBE-FLANGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Application filed November 22, 1912. Serial No. 732,811.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS N. OoFrELDnR, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented cer-. tain new anduseful Improvements in Tube- Flanging Machines; of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to a tube flanging machine and its object is toprovide a simple and eilicient machine especially adapted for forminglaterally extending flanges upon the ends of flat tubes formed of thinsheet metal and especially adapted for use in the construction of motorvehicle radiators.

The invention consists in the matters here:

inafter set forth and more particularly,

pointed out in the claims reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying theinvention with portions broken away to show the construction; Fig. 2 isa longitudinal vertical section through the same; Fig. 3 is a Viewsimilar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in position at the end of theforming operation; Fig. 4 is a view sim ilar to Fig. 2 showing the partsin position at the end of the forming operation; Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of one side of the ma chine; Fig. 6 an elevation of theopposite side of the machine; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a tube asit appears before being operated upon by the machine; Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the tube after the side edges have been cut away bythe machine in the process of forming; and Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof a finished tube after having been flanged by the machine.

As shown in the drawings 1 represents a suitable base which is providedwith a fixed upwardly extending post 2 at its rear end to the upper endof which post is rigidly bolted a forwardly extending guide-tongue 3upon the forward free end 4; of which the thin sheet metal tubeto beflanged, is sleeved, said'end of the tongue being tapered for a shortdistance from its end so that it will readily enter the end of the tube.The end 4 of the tongue is of a width and thickness to fit closelywithin the particular size of tube to be flanged and its forward endpreferably projects a'short distance beyond the forward end of themachine so that the operator may readily slip the tubes thereon.

Reciprocable upon the base 1, forwardly of the post 2 and centrally ofthe bed, is a head block 6 having an opening 7 therein through which thetongue 3 passes. Pivotally connected to cars 8 at each end of the blockat its rear side, are connecting rods 9 which may be actuated in anysuitable manner, not shown, for reciprocating the head upon the baselongitudinally of the tongue 3. The head block is formed at its forwardside with a vertical undercut groove to receive a tongue 10 on a faceblock 11 which is also provided with an opening through which the tongue3 slides, forming'a support and guide for the tongue. The face block isdetachably held upon the head block by means of a cap screw 12 in thehead block engaging the upper end of the tongue on the face block.

The forward side of the face block is formed with an undercut groove toreceive tongues 13 on two sides 14: which are free to move verticallytoward and from the tongue 3 and guided in such movement by theirdove-tail connection with the face block. These slides form carriers fortwo forming plates 15 which are pivoted at 16 to each slide with theirbeveled edges 17 resting upon the upper and lower sides of the tongue 3.Each plate is yieldingly held turned upon its pivot with its bevelededge in engagement with the tongue by means of a flat spring 18, whichsprings are secured at one end to the upper and lower ends of the faceblock 11 and are provided at their opposite ends with hooks to engageover the edges of the plates. The power of the springs 18 is thusapplied to the plates between their pivots and their beveled ends tohold said ends in firm contact with the upper and lower sides of thetongue 3.

Rigidly secured to the base 1 adjacent to the forward corners thereofare brackets 19 which form bearings for two shafts 20 and 21, oneextending across between said braclc ets 19 above the projecting end ofthe tongue 3 and the other below said end. Rigidly secured to theadjacent sides of said shafts directly above and below said tongue aretwo clamping plates 22 and 23 having free ends 24 which are bentslightly to lie flat against the sides of the tube 5 when said shafts 20and 21 are turned to swing them toward each other. The end edges of saidends 2 1 on the clamping plates are formed true and square so thatthemetal of the tube which is-to form the flanges 25 on said tube may bebent laterally at right angles to the tube against said ends of theclamping plates and an even right angle bend will be formed thereby.

The bed 1 is formed with a transverse undercut groove to receive tongues26 upon adjustable die blocks 27 which are positioned at each side ofthe guide tongue 3 adjacent to the ends 2!: of the clamping plates.These blocks 2'? may be adjusted to and from each other by means of ashaft 28 having a right and left hand screwthread engaging screwthreadedopenings in the blocks 27. These blocks are positioned just far enoughapart to permit the end of the tube 5 to be shoved in upon the end ofthe tongue 3 between them and each block is formed with a recess 29extending horizontally therethrough for a cutting finger 30 whichextends laterally from a slide 31 mounted in a way 32 in the top of theblock. The guide tongue 3 is reduced in width at the transverse bendingline of the flanges 25 or opposite the end edges of the clamping platesso that the slides 31 may be projected inward beyond the inner ends orfaces of the blocks 27 with their cutting fingers 30 in the path of thetube 5 when the same is shoved inward upon the enlarged end 4 of thetongue 3. When the tube is so placed in the machine upon the tongue 3,its inner end will come into contact with the inclined edges 33 of thefingers 30 which in this position of the parts project into the end ofthe tube to the vertical plane of the bending line of the tube flanges.These fingers are of a thickness to fit within the end of the tube andthus when the tube is in place and the slides 31 are moved outwardly intheir ways by means hereinafter described, the inclined cutting edges ofthe fingers 30 will engage the edges of the tube and sever a portion ofthe metal therefrom, separating the metal at the upper and lower sidesof the tube for a distance from its ends, which metal is bent laterallyto form the tube flanges 25, by the engagement therewith of the formingplates 15 when the head block 6 is moved forward. Beginning at thevertical plane of the bending line of said tube flanges, the tongue 3 isreduced in thicle ness, as at 34, for a short distance from said plane,and thus when the head block is "moved forwardly with the forming plates15 riding upon the upper and lower surfaces of said tongue, the sharpbeveled edges of said plates will readily engage beneath the end of themetal of the tube 5 which projects beyond the vertical plane of itsbending line and bend said side portions of the tube upwardly anddownwardly against the ends of the clamping plates 22 and 23.

When the head block is moved forwardly to such a position that furtherforward block 6, said slides to being thus a movement is resisted by theforming plates 15 coming into contact with the end of the tube and itsflanges which are turned out wardly thereby against the ends of theclamping plates, further movement of said head block will cause theforming plates to turn on their pivots 16 toward each other, slidingtheir carriers in their guides away from the tongue 3, which slidingmove -ment of the carriers permits said plates to turn to a position atright angles to the tongue and thus bend the tube flanges at 5 rightangles to the sides of the tubes, upwardly and downwardly against theforming ends of the clamping plates. springs 18 are of such a form andstrength that they operate to hold the forming plates '15 with theirbeveled ends firmly against the sides of the guide tongue and at the Thesame time operate to yieldingly hold the slides 14; moved toward eachother into engagement with the upper and lower sides of said tongue.

To move the slides 31 and their cutting fingers 30 in tuned relat1on tothe movement of the head block (3, and sever the metal from the sides ofthe tube before the form- 'ing plates 15 are brought into engagementwiththe tube, a bar 35 is pivotally attached intermediate its ends bymeans of a pivot 1 screw 36 to each slide 31 and this bar is pivotod atits forward end to the block 27 by a pivot screw 37. The rear end ofeach bar is bent laterally and formed with a longituzdinal slot 38through which a bolt 39 extends, said bolt engaging a 'screwthreadedopening in an adjustable slide 1-0 which is PTOVIClGCl at lts lower sidewith a tongue ail engaging an undercut groove in the head tached to thehead block to be ad usted thereon.

transversely thereof by said dovetail connection. A shaft 41-2 having aright and left hand screwthread engages screwtl'lreadod openings in theslides 40 and this shaft is held at one end against lon itudinalmovement in a bearing 13 on the head block. The

slides 40 may thus be adjusted simultaneonsly toward and from each otherby be turning of the shaft L2.

The slots 38 in the bars have an out wardly extending portion in thelaterally bent ends of the bars and a straight portion at their forwardends so that when the head 6 is moved forwardly said bars are at onceswung outwardly and thus move the slides 31 laterally, causing thefingers to sever the sides of the tube and move into the shaft hassecured to its outer end a bar at, which bars extend rearwardly at eachside of the machine and are formed with laterally bent rear ends. Therear end of each bar is formed with a longitudinal slot 45 having aninclined portion extending in the laterally bent end of the bar andcarried by the head block 6 are studs or bolts (l6 engaging said slots45 so that when the head is reciprocated the bars 44 will be raised andlowered by the engagement of the studs with the inclined portions of theslots in the bars and thus turn the shafts 20 and 21 in oppositedirections to bring the rear ends of the clamping plates into clampingengagement with the tube 5.

Tubes of any desired width may be flanged in the machine by detachingthe guide tongue 3 and replacing it with one which is of the width atits forward end to fit within the tube to be flanged, and then adjustingthe die blocks 27 and slides 40 toward or from each other to bring thecutting fin 'ers 30 into proper relation with the tube. The face block11 is also made de-, tachable as previously described so that it may bereadily taken out and another put in its place which is provided withforming plates of a width to correspond with the width of the tube to beoperated upon.

The tubes 5 may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal which ispreviously folded into the desired shape and size or they may be drawnor otherwise formed in any desired manner, the construction and form ofthe tube being immaterial as any tube which will fit over the end of theguide tongue may be flanged in the machine. Obviously, changes may alsobe made in the construction and arrangement of parts of the machinewithout departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not limitmyself to the particular form or arrangement shown.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is 1. In a tubeflan 'ing machine, the combination of a member to be inserted in a tubeto be flanged, tiltable members adapted to be brought into engagementwith the top and bottom of said tube when in place upon said member' toform abutments, and yieldable means adapted to engage within the end ofthe tube and bend the sides thereof outwardly a 'ainst said abut ments.

2. In a tube flanging machine, the combination of laterally movablemembers adapted to enter the end of a tube to be flanged, means formoving said members to cut portions from the tube, tiltable abutments toengage opposite sides of the tube, and means adapted to enter the end ofthe tube and fold the sides thereofoutwardly against said abutments,said means being disposed to engage the sides of the tube and havin inplanes above and below the planes ofsaid members.

8. In a tube fianging machine, the combination of tiltable membersbetween which the end of a tube to be flanged is adapted to be placed,adjustable fingers positioned to limit the movement of the tube in themachine, means for moving the fingersto sever portions from the end ofthe tube, and means for folding the portions of the tube between saidcut away portions at right angles to the sides of the tube.

l. In a tube flanging machine, the combination of members adapted toreceive the end of a tube to be flanged between them and havingrecesses, cutting fingers adapted to a limit the movement of the tubebetween said members, means for moving the fingers laterally into therecesses to sever portions from the end of the tube, abutments adaptedfaces in alinement with the ends of the fingers, and means adapted toenter the end of the tube and fold the sides thereof outwardly againstsaid faces of the abutments.

5. In a tube fianging machine, the combination of a member adapted tofit within a tube to be flanged, means for limiting the movement of thetube above said member and severing by an outward movement portlons fromsaid tube, tiltable clamping members movable lnto engagement with thesides of the tube on said member and adapted to form the same outwardlyagainst the ends. of said members, said means being yleldable in planesat an angle to said tongue.

7 In a tube flanging machine, the combination of a supporting memberadapted to fit within the end of a tube to be flanged, means forlimiting the movement of the tube upon said member and severing portionsfrom the end of the tube, clamping men hers to engage the sides of thetube upon the supporting member, means for folding portions of the endof the tube outwardly, and means for actuating the severing means,clamping members and'folding means in timed relation to each other.

8. In a tube fianging machine, the combi nation of a member adapted tofit within a tube to be flanged, clamping members adapted to engage thetube at a distance from I one end, pivoted forming members yieldinglyheld at an angle to each other to enter the end or" the tube and adaptedto turn upon their pivots and fold portions of the end the tubeoutwardly against the ends of the clamping members.

9. In a tube hanging machine, the combination of a supportingtongueadapted to fit within the end of a tube to be flanged, means forclamping the tube upon the tongue, pivoted forming plates having bevelede lges, means for yieldingly holding said plates with their bevelededges in contact with the sides of the tongue, and means for moving thetongue and forming members relatively to bring said members intoengagement with the end of the tube on the tongue and fold portions ofthe said end outwardly against the ends of the clamping members.

10. In a tube flanging machine, the combination of a tongue adapted tofit within the end of a tube to be flanged, a head through which thetongue extends, clamping members to engage the tube upon the tongue,forming members carried by the head to engage within the end of the tubeand form portions of the same outwardly against the ends of the clampingmembers and means for reciprocating the head.

11. in a tube. iianging machine, the combination of die blocks havingrecesses, a tongue adapted to fit within the end of a tube to be flan edand support the end of the tube between the die blocks with its endportion opposite the recesses in the blocks, cutting fingers carried bythe die blocks to enter the end of the tube and adapted to be moved intothe recesses to sever portions fro the end of the tube, clamping membersto engage the sides of the tube, a reciprocable head through which thetongue extends, and means carried by the head for engaging I the end ofthe tube and outwardly bending the side portions of the tube between itscut,

away portions.

12. In a tube Hanging machine, the combination of a member adapted toenter the end of a tube, pivoted forming plates adapted to rest uponsaid member at their free ends to enterthe end of the tube and to turnupon their pivots when brought into ongagement therewith and to bendportions of the tube outwardly, means for yieldingly holding the formingplates in contact with said member, and means engaging the sides of thetube to form an abutment against which the end portions of the tube arefolded outwardly by the forming plates.

13. in a tube hanging machine, the combination of a supporting tongue:uhpted to fit within the end of a tube to be flanged, clamping membersadapted to en 'e the sides of a tube upon the tongue, a cable headthrough which the to tends, slides carried by the head, forming platespivotally attached to the slides and having edges engaging and slidingupon the tongue to enter the end of the tube and flange the sameoutwardly, and yielding means for holding the forming members with theirends against the tongue and in an inclined position which means isadapted to yield when the movement of said forming members along thetongue is resisted by the clamping members, to permit the formingmembers to turn upon their pivots to a position at right angles to thesides of the tube.

14-. In a tube fla-nging machine, the combination of a supporting tonguesupported at one end and adapted to fit within the end of a tube to beflanged at its opposite end, a reciprocable head through which thetongue extends, forming members carried by the head to engage the end ofthe tube and form portions thereof outwardly there on, means adapted toenter the end of the tube and to be moved laterally to cut edge portionsfrom the end of the tube, clamping members movable into and out ofengagement with the sides of the tube to clamp the tube in place uponthe tongue and to form aoutments against which the end portions areformed outwardly by the forming members, means for reciprocating thehead, and means actuated by the movement of the mad for moving theclamping members and the members for severing the edge portions from.the tube.

15. lln a tube hanging machine, the combination of die blocks havingrecesses therein, slides carried by said blocks, and having lingersformed with inclined cutting edges, a supporting tongue having an endportion to fit within a tube to be flanged and support the tube betweenthe die blocks with its edges in contact therewith and. its end (3X-tending beyond the recesses in the blocks, means for moving the slidesto bring the inclined cutting edges of the fingers into engagement withthe edges of the tubeand sever portions therefrom when said fingers aremoved by the slides into the recesses, and means movable longitudinallyof the tongue to engage within the end of the tube and fold the sideportions thereof outwardly.

16. In a tube .tlanging machine, the combination of a tongue supportedat one end and formed at its opposite end to fit within a tube to beflanged, die blocks adjustable toward and from the edges of the tongueopposite the inner end of the tube thereon, cutting fingers carried bythe die blocks and adapted to enter the inner end of the tube and severedge portions therefrom, clamping members above and below the tube onthe ton ue, a reeiprocable head through which the tongue extends, adetachable face block on the head through which the tongue extends,slides carried by the face block and movable toward and from the sidesof the tongue, forming plates pivoted at one edge to the slides andbeveled at their opposite edges to engage the sides of the tongue, meansfor yieldingly holding the plates and slides in engagement with thetongue, and means for reciprocating the head and actuating the clampingmembers.

17 In a tube flanging machine, the combination of a tongue formed at oneend to fit within a tube to be flanged and rigidly supported at itsopposite end, dieblocks adjacent to the sides of the tongue, rock shaftsextending in parallelism above and below the tongue adjacent to theformed end 01' the same, clamping members carried by said rock shaftsand adapted to swing into clamping engagement with the upper and lowersides of the tube on the tongue when the shafts are turned, slidescarried by the die blocks, cutting fingers on the slides adapted toenter the inner end of the tube onwe tongue and sever edge portions fromthe end of the tube when the slides are moved, a reciprocable headthrough which the tongue extends, forming plates carried by the head toengage the inner end of the tube on the tongue and form side portions ofthe tube outwardly against the ends of the clamping members, means forreciprocating the head, bars connected to the head for reciprocating theslides on the die blocks, and bars actuated by the movement of the headfor rock ing the rock shafts. and moving the clamp- 19. In a tubeflanging machine, tiltablemembers adapted to clamp and hold a tube,laterally movable means adapted to extend into the end of the tube andsever opposed portions therefrom, and means movable to and from the endof this tube between the first mentioned means and cooperating with saidmember in flanging the end of said tube. 20. In a tube fianging machine,a station ary member adapted to have a tube seated thereon, meansmovable laterally at an angle to said member and adapted to removeopposed edge portions from the end of the tube, and means movablelongitudinally of said member and adapted to flange the remaining edgeportions of the tube.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS N. COFFELDER. Witnesses:

LEWIS E. FLANDERS, ANNA M. Dons.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing'the Gommissioner of Patents, vWashington, I). G.

